Beijing Stresses Peaceful Intent Toward Taiwan

China’s top defense official declared Wednesday that Beijing reserves the right to use military force against Taiwan to resolve their half-century dispute but has “no intent” to do so, U.S. officials here said.

In a closed-door meeting, Chinese Gen. Chi Haotian assured visiting U.S. Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen that Beijing’s emphasis remains on a peaceful reconciliation across the Taiwan Strait, said a senior U.S. official here who spoke only on condition of anonymity.

But “we have also made it very clear that we do not undertake to give up the use of force,” Defense Minister Chi told reporters after his discussions with Cohen.

Their meeting, which opened two days of talks here, was the highest-level military dialogue between the two governments since North Atlantic Treaty Organization warplanes bombed the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, last year. U.S. officials have insisted that the bombing was accidental.

Chi’s remarks on Taiwan reiterated Beijing’s long-standing policy toward the island, which separated politically from the mainland in 1949 and is considered by Beijing to be a renegade province. For years, China’s Communist regime has said it would attack Taiwan only if the island declared independence or was taken over by a foreign power. Earlier this year, Beijing said it would also resort to force if Taiwan “indefinitely” delayed talks on reunification.

Cross-strait relations have been deadlocked since voters elected Chen Shui-bian, a former independence advocate, as Taiwan’s new president in March. Beijing’s response so far has been to wait and see, while issuing blustery statements and insisting that Taiwan’s new government recognize the existence of “one China.”

At the same time, China’s arsenal of missiles capable of hitting Taiwan has been growing. Although Cohen said he suggested reducing the missile threat to help bring down cross-strait tension, Chi told reporters that the buildup is “China’s own business” and added that the reported missile increase “has been exaggerated.”

Cohen’s trip is the latest in a series of high-level visits to China by U.S. officials. He is the third member of the Cabinet to travel to the Chinese capital in the past month, after U.S. anti-drug czar Barry R. McCaffrey and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

Last week, in a prelude to the Cohen visit, top U.S. arms control negotiator John Holum held talks here with his Chinese counterparts, who strongly object to U.S. plans to develop a national missile defense shield. Chinese leaders fear that such technology could be deployed in Taiwan, upsetting the balance of power across the strait and sparking a new global arms race.

Those objections came up again Wednesday during Cohen’s talks with Chi. The Chinese also denied allegations that Beijing has transferred important missile technology to Pakistan, its most important ally against the two countries’ mutual rival, India.

Despite their disagreements, Cohen and Chi signed an accord to exchange information on environmental protection research by their respective armed forces. Delegations from the two militaries will conduct reciprocal visits on the subject.

Cohen is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Jiang Zemin today.